Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1887-12-14


only increased to the extent OF the
farmers tariff profit, but a further
sum has been added for the profit
of the manufacturer under the operation OF
there tariff laws. In the meantime the day
arrives when the farmer finds it necessary
to purchase wooden goods and material to
cothe himself and family for the winter.
When he faces the tradesman for that pur-
pose be discovers that he is obliged not only
return, in the way of increased prices. his
riff profit on the wool he sold, and which
then perhaps lies before him in manutact-
ured form, but that he must add a consider
| able sum thereto to meet a further increase
in cost caused by tariff duty on the manu-
| facture. Thus in the end he Is aroused to
the fact that he has paid upon moderate
| purchase as a result of the tariff scheme,
which, when he sold his wool, seemed so
profitable,
AN INCREASE IN PRICE
| more than sufficient to sweep away all the
1 tariff profit he received upon the wool he
| produced and sold When the number of
| farmers engaged in wool raising is compared
| with all the farmers in the country, and the
small proportion they bear to our Dopula-
| ton is considered; when it is made apparent
| tnat, IN the case of a large part of those who
| own sheep, the benefit of the present tariff
on wool is iliusory, and, above all, when it
must be conceded that the increase OF
the cost OF living caused by such
tariff becomes a burden upon those
with moderate means and the poor, the
| employed and unemployed, the sick and
! we'll and the young and old, and that il con-
| stitutes tax which, with relentless grasp
| is fastened upon the clothing of every man,
woman and child in the land, reasons are
| suggested why the removal or reduction of
| this duty should be included i'll a revision of
| our tariff laws. In speaking of the increased
| cost to the consumer of our home manufact-
| ures, resulting from duty laid upon i'm
nnrtnH articles Of the Hocprintjnn the
| fact is not. overlooked that competition
among our domestic producers sometimes
has the effect of keeping the price of their
products below the highest limit allowed by
such duty. But it is notorious that this COM
petition Is too often strangled by comblna-
lions quite prevalent at this time, and fire.
quentlv called trusts, which have for their
object the regulation of the supply and price
of commodities made and sold by members
of the combination The people can barely
hope for any consideration in the operation
of thes+ selfish schemes. If, however, in
the abs nee of such combinations, a healthy
and free competition reduces the price of
any particular dutiable article of home pro-
duction, below the limit which it might 9TH
erwise reach under our tariff laws and if,
with such reduced price, its manufacture
continue to thrive, it is entirely evident
that one thing has been discovered which
should be carefully scrutiniZed in an effort
to reduce taxation. The necessity of COM
bination to maintain the price of any COM
modify to the tariff point furnishes proof
that some one is willing to accept lower
prices for such commodity, and that such
prices are remuneratiVe; and lower prices
produced by competition prove the same
thing. Thus where either of these condi-
tions exist case would seem to be pre-
sented for an easy reduction of taxation. The
considerations which have been presented
touching our tariff laws are intended only to
enforce an earnest recommendation that the
surplus revenue OF the government be pre-
vented by the
REDUCTION OF OUR CUSTOMS DUTIES.
and, at the same time, to emphasize sug-
-gestion that in accomplishing this purpose
we may discharge double duty to our peo-
pie by granting to them measure of relief
from tariff taxation in quarters where it is
most needed and from sources where it can
be most fairly and justly accorded. Nor can
the presentation made of such consider
atoms be, with any degree of fairness, re-
garded as evidence of unfriendliness toward
our manufacturing interests, or of any lack
of appreciation of their value and i'm
portance. These interests constitute a lead
ing and most substantial element of our ma
tiona1 greatp ess and furnish the proud proof
of our countrys progress But if in the
emergency that presses upon us our manu-
facturerS are are asked to surrender some
thing for the public good and to avert dis
aster, their patriotism, as well as grateful
should lead them to willing cooperation.
No demand is made that they shall forego all
the benefits OF the governmental regard:
but they cannot fail to be admonished of
their duty, as well as their enlightened self
interest and safety, when they are reminded
of the fact that financial panic and collapse,
to which the present condition tends, afford
no greater shelter or protection to our manu-
facturers than our other important enter
prises Opportunity for safe, careful, and
deliberate reform is now offered; and none
of us should be unmindful of a time when
an abused and irritated people, needless of
those who have resisted timely and reason
able relief, may insist upon radical and
sweeping rectifcation of their wrongs
The The difficulty Gi attending +.,r wise e and
not under estimated. 1t will re-
quire on the part of the congress great labor
and care, and especially broad and national
contemplation of the subject, and a patriotic
disregard of such local and selfish claims as
are unreasonable and regardless of the well
fare of the entire country. Under our pres
emit laws more than four thousand articles
are subject to duty. Many of these do not
in any way compare with our own manu-
features, and many are hardly worth atten-
tion as subjects of revenue. considerable
reduction can be made in the aggregate by
ADDING THEM TO THE FREE LIST.
The taxation OF luxuries presents no feat
ures Of hardship; but the necessaries OF life
used and consumed by all people, the duty
upon which adds to the cost of living in
every home. should be greatly cheapened
The radical reduction of the duties imposed
upon raw material used in manufactures, or
its free Importation, is, of course, an i'm
portant factor in any effort to reduce the
price of these necessaries; 1t would not only
relieve them from the increased cost caused
by the tariff on such material, but the man
ufactured product being thus cheapened that
part of the tariff now laid upon such product
as compensation to- our manufacturers for
the present price 'of raw material could
be accordingly modified. Such reduc-
ton, or free importation, would serve
beside to largely reduce the revenue. 1t is
not apparent how such change can have
any injurious effect upon our manufacturers
On the contrary it would appear to give them
a better chance in foreign markets with the
manufacturers of other countries who
cheaper their ware with free material Thus
nnr nennle rniuht have the nnnnr tllnitv of